The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-22
Editorial 8riets.
BY REV. I. III. ATWOOD, D. D.
Canton, N. Y.


HE Nation lately remarked that the
lists of membership given in denomina-
tlonal year books are notoriously inflated,
as are also the returns of church benevo-
lences." This ie in the nature of Grail
ing accusation" and it was promptly de-
MED by the Independent and proof called
for. The Nation rejoined in scornful
paragraph, evidently written under the
persuasion that smart sneer leveled at
its esteemed contemporary is more than
equivalent to cords Of evidence. Then a
Congregationalist minister, in moment
OF hallucination, writes to assure the edit
or OF the Nation that he is certainly in err
ror SO far as the Congregational body is
concerned, the statistics reported uni
formly falling below the facte.
This is quite too much for the editor.
He turns on the unprotected pastor and
proceeds to tear him in pieces in the
fashion OF an accomplished journalistic
Modoc. But the Nation has witnessed
too much war among it's neighbors to
suppose that the blood of one Congre-
gatlonalist pastor will make peace be-
tween itself and the Independent. Blood
will require blood; and the gore of the
editors will make the sea of religious
statistics run red. We were moved to
take hand in the fray before the editor
OF the Nation unsheathed his glittering
sword. But our blood is scarce and pre-
cious. We can not afford to shed any of
it on the altar of statistics. After the
slaughter we shall try to find out which
warrior died for the truth.
Charles Warren, M. D., has prepared
paper for the Bureau of Education on
The Study of Music in Public Schools"
1t is a careful and valuable summary of
information on the subject, from which
educators and curators of our public
schools may obtain the materials for an
intelligent opinion. DR.. Warren offers a
new classification of education. He rec
ognizes i'll it three stages-nurture for
the infant, teaching for the youth and
culture for the adult. This may serve a
practical purpose, but regarded as a
scientific classification it is illusory. ALI
these processes are often simultaneous in
youth, and the two last are frequently so
in maturity.
In the same circular are essays from
different musicians and teachers who
have had experience with music in the
public schools, all OF whom are enthusi.
asts in behalf Of it's general introduction
as branch of public education. Our
friend, Geo. A. Veazie, Esq, of Chelsea,
Mass, advocates the teaching of music
in the public schools as means of spir-
itual culture. The logic of his view is.
that music develops and refines the moral
nature. This renders the pupil more sem
sitive to the assaults of evil and more
susceptible to the influences of good. This
seems to be sound priori reasoning.
Mr.. Veazie thinks it is also supported by
experience.
= "How different" says DR.. Reuen
Thomas, speaking of Jonathan Edwards
most famous sermon, "the spirit of New
Testament Christianity from that of the
theology of this Titanic SOUL" Yes, this is
what we have been testifying for a hundred
years, and ye have accused us of bearing
false witness and of having reprobate
mind. This, however, is only part of the
truth. How different is most OF the theoI-
ogy and churchism of the world, past and
present, from New Testament Christian
ity. But it is encouraging to reflect that
the theological changes since Edwards,
are toward primitive Christianity, what
ever must be thought OF ecclesiastical
notifications.
FIR. Lavelle, of the Cathedral, New
York, puts the case honestly and fairly in
his appeal for the parochial schools. A de-
ficiency of $4,000 had accrued on the OK.
penses for the Cathedral parochial schools.
1t must be met. But it may be asked. said
FIR. Lavelle, are not the public schools
good enough for Catholics? Why this
great and needless expense? We have
no word of disparagement for the public
schools, says FIR. Lavelle. They are ex-
cellent schools for the purpose they are
intended to subserve; but they are not
for us. sour children cannot be educat-
ed for the Catholic faith except in the
parochial schools. When we have paro-
chial schools our churches are strong;
when we have them not our churches are
weak" This is frank and Ineligible. It
is doubtless true. The public schools
do not make Catholics. No more do thev
make Presbyterians or Univerealists
That is not what the public schools are
for.
The intention of Archbishop Corrioan
in suspending DR.. McGlynn is to assert.
and by asserting to strengthen, the an
thority of the Roman church in America.
The effect Of the action will be lust the
opposite to that intended. 1t will con-
tribute to weaken the unity and authority
of the church. 1t is not material whether
DIR. McGlynn was right or wrong. The
American sentiment is averse to the exer-
else of arbitrary power. 1t is not good
policy for the Roman church to exercise
such power, in any marked manner, in this
country. The effect is two-fold-on the